For many of us with hectic, stressful lives, relaxation means zoning out in front of the TV at the end of the day or snatching some extra sleep at the weekend. Unfortunately, this does little to help reduce the damaging effects of stress on the mind and body.

You may respond best to relaxation techniques that quiet you down, such as meditation, deep breathing, or guided imagery

Under Excited

You tend to become depressed, withdrawn, or spaced out under stress

You may respond best to relaxation techniques that are stimulating and that energize your nervous system, such as rhythmic exercise

Frozen

You tend to freeze: speeding up in some ways while slowing down in others

Your challenge is to identify relaxation techniques that provide both safety and stimulation to help you “reboot” your system. Techniques such as mindfulness walking or power yoga might work well for you